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First, we get hit with an earthquake and now Hurricane Irene is roarin’ our way—what is going on with the East Coast? Are we experiencing the wrath of the gods? (I say “gods” because I don’t think my Heavenly Father is exacting wrath on us. But the fictional Greek gods would do exactly this sort of thing. Shame on them! That’s who I’m fakely referring to.) Every day, my life becomes more and more like a dystopian novel—and not even a good one. Suffice to say, if I’m washed away, this will be the last Friday Faves ever (that is, unless Jen Rose keeps it up in my memory. She’s in Orlando. She’s safe…for now.)

This morning, instead of putting together from Friday Faves, I’ve been dodging calls from my arch-nemesis Sallie Mae and others who are trying to take down Sallie and her henchmen AND my mom who keeps asking me if I have flashlights, bottled water, an ark (actually that was Shari’s suggestion on Twitter—that we should build an ark and load up all the pets.), and so forth. Therefore, I’ve been monitoring the path of Irene with the intensity of a NOAA meteorologist, reading about hurricane preparedness, and of course, making sure BFF Sarah and I are stocked with all the essentials.

The first on the list of essentials—First Aid Kit (Band-Aids in two sizes and triple antibiotic—check!), bottled water (check!), flashlights…uh does the one on my keychain count? Apparently the major retailers are out of flashlights AND flashlight batteries, so I headed to a charming local hardware store to purchase my goods. There I am—lost female—in a hardware store full of burly men buying siding and bird seed (for real! I guess he figures the birds gotta eat when the hurricane passes). I wandered about the lighting section because flashlights are lighting, right? No, no they aren’t. I can’t even tell you what else I saw in aisle after aisle of tools and parts—it’s all blur of hardware. Finally, I reached a counter at the back of the store where a man told me that the flashlights were in the front of the store by the batteries.

I mean, I must be a hardware store idiot because I couldn’t find flashlights OR batteries, so I asked another employee who pointed to the keys and told me the flashlights were on the other side. Of course, why wouldn’t they be by the keys? (See, I would have put the keys next to the door knobs…) Score! I found the flashlights. On my cell phone, I conferred with BFF Sarah about which lights would be best, since they didn’t have any cute lanterns (just because a natural disaster is headed our way doesn’t mean we can’t be fashionable). I decided on TWO big red flashlights that could double as bully sticks in the case of home invasion or martial law, and two small flashlights (also red). Now, if the lights go out I can still read. Disaster averted. As long as I have my books, I can survive the storm.

In other news, my mom got a dog from a friend of a friend, but I don’t think the “friend” was actually friends with her friends, more like an acquaintance, so my mom got the dog from the acquaintance of a friend. Anyway, this little shih tzu was in pathetic shape—ignored, underweight, and didn’t even know her given name (“Jayd,” changed to “Jayden.” We could have called her anything and she wouldn’t have known the difference.) I’ll tell you more about Jayden next week, since hurricane coverage took over the personal story section. Here’s a picture to hold you over until next Friday…

Now onto this week’s faves…

*Owl City unleashed a lyrics-only video for one of my fave songs off his new album, All Things Bright and Beautiful, and since I haven’t mentioned Owl City in at least two weeks…I posted the video for “The Real World.” You can also check out his new website: RealityIsALovelyPlace.com for cool merch and other reality-based products. In other Owl City goodness, Adam Young write an exciting and informative post (complete with graphic) called “How to Tell an Octopus From A Dolphin.” Those of you who are confused about marine biology should definitely check this one out.

*You must have been hiding under a rock if didn’t hear my happy exclamations about the Sept. 20 release ofNeedToBreathe’s new album, The Reckoning. Well, nowyou can pre-order the album! I can’t because I’m broke from purchasing flashlights and batteries, but you can! (Plus, I’m hoping for a review copy. Hint, hint. Nudge, nudge.)

*Speaking of music and breathing, singer/songwriter Jason Gray has been doing both! JG is fast becoming a “Friday Fave” regular mention because we here at BSW just love, love, love his upcoming release, A Way to See in the Dark (a hilarious title teamed with my frenzied flashlight buying tale). Anyway, Jason wrote a post about his song, “The Sound of Our Breathing” at The Rabbit Room called “Is the Name of God the Sound of Our Breathing?” Honestly, I love this one because during my panic attacks I have to breath in and breath out, and it’s comforting to think I’m speaking the very name of God in my panic. By the way, check out the video below for information on how you can get JG’s new album in retro form from the fine folks at Centricity U.

*My pal, Evangeline Denmark, wrote an adorable post about her son’s recent fromance (that’s friendship/romance) with a girl. Here is one of my [many] fave quotes, “Why must girls be so cruel? Especially the really cool, popular ones. You know, the undercover unicorns who think they’re all that because they hang with washed-up extra-terrestrials.” Intrigued? Then go read the rest of “Heartbreak! With Unicorns and Aliens” at Breathe In and Breathe Out (Hmm…maybe Evangeline needs to listen to Jason Gray’s song…)

And, honestly, that’s all I have time for because there’s a battery emergency going on in the living room (no “D” batteries to be found ANYWHERE) and our two BRAND NEW mini-handhelds don’t work! AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! There’s a hurricane a’coming!!!!

Are you an East Coaster? Is Hurricane Irene going to hit you? For those of you who have been through hurricanes, what advice do you have? What do you think about Jason Gray’s blog post? Are you going to buy [me] NeedToBreathe’s new album? Who was your first love? Was he or she a unicorn or some otherworldly creature?

Haha! Aw, you won’t wash away. I survived the 2004 hurricane season, so I fancy myself an expert. =) (THREE hit Central Florida… the last one was even going out to sea and she decided to loop back and get us! “Hunker Down!” was our battle cry.)

Water and flashlights are good. Get in an interior room on the lowest floor to ride it out. Oh, and clean up any loose objects in your yard that can become dangerous projectiles. Radio people are nerdy about weather, so here’s a handy Hurricane guide from our website: http://zradio.org/index/articles/00000033/ (shameless plug)

Good luck! I feel a little guilty that all Florida got was a little breeze…

Also, Centricity is too much of a trendsetter to go vinyl. They’re 8-track. Forward thinking! 😉 But actually, I wish I could get AWtSitD on vinyl…. the cover art would be amazingly beautiful!

And I want a review copy of The Reckoning too. Alas. Guess we have to wait until street date, like regular people….

I made the Friday Faves! I’m so honored! I’m glad you sympathize with my little Romeo.
I cracked up reading about your flashlight search. That totally sounds like me. I hope you stay safe and cozy throughout the storm!
I think I need to share that Owl City video with Beth Vogt. My chapter for this week’s critique group contained some very scary scenes with an owl. Now she says I’ve made her permanently terrified of owls, but I think this song could be therapeutic for her.
I’m intrigued by Jason Gray. I’m heading off to read his post now.

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About Amy

Amy Sondova is a writer specializing in media writing, including interviews and reviews, as well as blogging. Having interviewed over a gazillion of the top musicians, writers, and speakers in the Christian media, Amy has also written countless columns, reviews, and articles on various topics including mental illness, self-injury, working with teenagers, and Christianity. Amy currently writes youth Bible studies, for her blog, SheIsBeloved.com, runs Share Beauty Project (ShareBeautyProject.com), and is currently working on her first book. She lives with BFF Sarah and has a Shih Tzu named Maddy, a cockatiel named Arrow, King Karl the Snail, and a fish tank known as The Bachelor Pad. She just might be Captain America's fiance.